Machine for piercing plies of fabrics



D. B. ASHMAN. MACHINE FOR PIE'RCING PLIES 0F FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1919.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

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llllli :slnin alnlnlslilae (Emma/Mom 0. B. ASHMAN. MACHINE FOR PIERCING PLIES OF FABRICS.

APPLICATION FILED H8. 20. I919.

Patented Dec, 1920.

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nxwmtoz the spring-actuated means for normally sus- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. ASHMAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE D. B. ASI-IMAN MACHINE COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARY- LAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

MACHINE FOR PIERCING PLIES OF FABRICS.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, DAVID B. ASHMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Piercing Plies of Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for piercing plies of fabric and is especially useful in the manufacture of certain garments but may be used for other purposes.

The object of the invention is to provlde a machine for the purpose stated that shall be simple in construction and operation; that may rapidly drill through a pile of fabric of considerable thickness; that may be adjusted for a greater or lesser stroke; that will permit of the use of drills of different sizes and which has provision for guiding and directing the drill while it is being driven through the fabric layers.

WVith these, and other objects in view, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,-

Figure 1, shows the improved machlne 1n front elevation.

Fig. 2, illustrates the same in slde elevation.

Fig. 3, shows the same in sectional top plan,as though viewed on the line 33 of Fig. 4, illustrates a cross-sectional detail through the machine as the same would appear if cut on the line 44 of F1g. 1.

Fig. 5,shows another cross-sectional detail,-the section being taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6, illustrates on an enlarged scale a vertical sectional detail through the ends of taining the parts in an elevated or retracted position.

Fig. 7, shows in perspectlve one of the notched supporting blocks, and

Fig. 8, illustrates the lower end of the motor shaft and the drill clamping device thereon and also shows a pin device for holding the shaft against revolution while the drill is being attached or detached.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 9, designates a flat base plate which may have any desired outline but preferably is rectangular in shape, and this base-plate is provided at opposite sides with Verticallyextending sockets 10, in which the lower ends of vertical tubes 11, are secured. These tubes 11, extend upwardly from the base plate and have a parallel but spaced-apart relation. Each vertical tube is provided in its diametrically-opposite sides with longitudinal slots 12, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the drawings,said slots extending between but not to the ends of said tubes. The upper ends of the slots form an upper stop-shoulder 13, as best seen in Fig. 6.

A block or bar 14, extends crosswise of each tube 11, and has its ends extending through the slots in the opposite sides of the tube so that the block may move vertically within the limits of the slots. The lower side of each block 14, is provided with a crosswise notch 15, which is centrally located in the tube and beneath the blocks, each tube contains a stem 16, having an enlarged head 17 which latter fits the interior of the tube so as to freely slide vertically thereon. The upper end of the stem 16, seats in the bottom notch 15, of the block 14, and thus prevents the block from endwise movement that would cause it to become displaced with respect to the slots.

On the interior, each tube 11, is provided with a coiled spring 18, whose upper end encircles the lower portion of the stem 16, and seats under the head 17. These springs are sufficiently compressed, when in their normal distended condition, to sustain the weight of certain parts which are supported by the projecting ends of the blocks 14, as will presently be explained. The springs therefore keep the stems and blocks pressed upwardly until the blocks seat against the stop-shoulders 13, that are formed by the upper ends of the slots 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, of the drawing.

A movable frame 19, having tubular bearings 20, at opposite sides, is located between the two vertical tubes and said tubular bearings of the said frame slidably fit over the tubes so as to move vertically thereon. The tubes therefore serve as guides on which. the frame may move vertically toward and from the base plate.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 6, of the drawings it will be seen that the tubular.

bearings 20, seat on the projecting ends of the blocks 14, so that the frame 19, is yieldingly sustained indirectly by the springs 18.

The frame 19, carries a motor 21, with its shaft 22, extending vertically and centrally between the two guide tubes 11. This motor is electrically driven and is provided with current-supply wires 23 and 24,- which extend from the switch to a separable connector 28, and wires 29 and 30, between the connector and motor windings. These connectlons are-provlded so that by simply sepengaging and carrying a tool such as a needle or drill 34. The hole 32, in the en-.

, largement has a useful function during the operation of the clamping head 33, to'attach or detach a drill, as will presently be ex- 'plained,

' The'base plate 9, is provided with a slot 35, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, ofthe drawings, which slot extends in a crosswise direction and between the sockets 10. Immediately at the rear of said slot, the base is provided with a vertically-extending socket '36, through the side of which av set screw 37, passes, as can be seen in Fig. l. A disk 38, isseated on top of the socket 36, and is provided with a central depending stem that projects down into said-socket so that the set screws 37, may bind against said diskstem and hold the same against rotation.

The disk 38,is further provided with a plurality of guide perforations 39, each differing from the other in diameter, and these perforations by extending vertically through 'the disk, serve as guides for the needle or drill 34, during the vertical movement of the latter, as will presently be explained. By

' providing perforations 39, of different sizes,

drills or needles 34, also of different sizes may be employed and thereby broaden the scope'ofutility of the machine.

" To operate the machine, the needle or drill.

while revolving, must be moved downwardly through the guide plate or disk 88, and projected through the slot35, and below the base of the machine. The means for-effect ing this vertical movement of the needle or drill will therefore now be explained, reference being made particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawing.

Each tubular-bearing 20, of frame 19, is

provided on its outer side with a'lug 40, and

each lug pivotally sustains an operating lever 41,+a pivot screw42, serving toeflect this connection.

The upper ends of the two levers 41, ex-

tend well above the motor and are connected by a handle 43, while the lower ends of said levers are provided with a slot 44.

In the present instance a cross-bar 45,-.extends.horizontallybetween and connects the rear edges of the levers 41, for purposes of rigidity, but -this-bar is not essential and lead to a switch25; wires 26, and 27, that may be dispensed with. W hen the cross-bar is employed 1 preferably providethe same with a. central 7 horizontal perforation 46, which 'pe'rforationmay be made to register or aline with the perforation 32, in the enlargement 31-, on the end of the motor shaft.

1V heir these perforations are in register, a

locking pin '47, maybe passed through; the

'50, to a lug 51, on the outer side of the base socket 10.

By grasping the handle 43,'a'nd swinging the upper ends of the levers 41, on-the pivots 42, said levers and the links '49 will assume the position indicated by broken linesin Fig. 2, and during this movement will cause the tubularbearings 20-to slide downwardly on the guide tubes 11, carryingthe. frame '19, and motor 21', with it so that the revolving shaft 22, and the drill 34, will also move downwardly and project the drill or needle through and below'the bottom "of the'base plate In practice the pile or thickness'of fabric layers 52, is formed by 'superposingasmany layers of fabric as maybe desired and th e entire machine is seated -ontop of the pile I To effect'this adjustment of thestroke I.

provide a vertical stop "bar"53,",havi ng a stop device or head- 54,on its lowerend and provided with screw-threads55,at its'upper end. 7 i

The threaded endof this stop bar'screws through a lug 56,-onthejfframe 19, 'and lock nuts 57 and' 58, serve to lockthest0p bar in any desired position.

Obviously the stop-bar will move verti- Cally with the frame and motor and when these parts are moved downwardly until the stop-device or head 54, strikes the top of the base plate, further downward movement of those parts will be prevented.

Having described my invention, what I claim is,

1. In a machine for piercing plural plies of cloth, the combination with a flat base having two spaced-apart tubular guides extending vertically therefrom and each tube having a longitudinal slot therein, of a frame having two spaced-apart vertical guidetubes, of a horizontal frame having its opposite end slidably engaging the guidetubes; a motor carried by the frame and having its shaft extending vertically between the guide-tubes; a drill attached to the lower end of said motor-shaft and depending between the guide-tubes; a lever at each end of the horizontal frame and each lever being pivoted between its ends to an end of the frame and a link connected c0335 each lever below the frame and each link having its lower end pivotally sustained.

3. The combination with a base, of spacedapart guides extending above the base; a horizontal frame having tubular bearings which slide on said guides; a piercing tool movable with the frame and normally having its piercing end above the base; two levers each being pivotally connected to a tubular bearing of the frame, two links each connecting an end of a lever and having its other end pivoted at a fixed point whereby the movement of the levers and links will cause the frame to move toward or from the base, and means sustained by each guidetube for yieldingly supporting the horizontal frame.

4:. The combination with a base, of spacedapart tubular guides extending above the base and each guide having a longitudinal slot; a spring in each guide; a block supported 011 the spring and projecting through said slot; a frame between the'guides and supported at opposite sides on said blocks; a piercing tool movable with the frame and normally having its piercing end above the base, and means for moving the frames against the action of the springs and toward the base for projecting the tool-end below the base.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DAVID B. ASHMAN. 

